Ronald Greeley
Encyclopedia
Ronald Greeley was a Regents’ Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) at Arizona State University
(ASU), the Director of the NASA
-ASU Regional Planetary Image Facility
(RPIF), and Principal Investigator of the Planetary Aeolian Laboratory at NASA-Ames Research Center. He was involved with lunar and planetary studies since 1967 and most recently focused his research on understanding planetary surface processes and geologic histories.
in 1962 and his M.S. degree in Geology in 1963 from Mississippi State University
and earned his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1966.
. Through his military service, he was assigned to NASA’s Ames Research Center in 1967 where he worked in a civilian capacity in preparation for the Apollo missions to the Moon
. He remained at NASA to conduct research in planetary geology
. With the results of the planetary missions in the early 1970s, attention shifted to Mars
and research on volcanism
and aeolian processes through the analysis of Mariner
6, 7, and 9 data. He became a science team member on the Mars Viking
mission from 1976 through 1980.
In 1977, Greeley joined the faculty at Arizona State University with a joint professorship in Geology and the Center for Meteorite Studies
. His latest research focused on the wind processes on Earth
, Mars, Venus
, and Titan
, field studies of basaltic volcanism, and photogeological mapping of the planets and satellites including Europa
. He was also a science team member on the Mars Exploration Rover
program and the European Space Agency’s
Mars Express
mission.
Greeley served on various NASA and National Academy of Sciences
panels to assess space science
and planetary geology activities. He chaired the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Management Operations Working Group, the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration, and the NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group. He was Co-chair of the NASA Science Definition Team for the Europa flagship mission and served in that capacity until his death in 2011.
Greeley wrote or co-wrote more than 400 papers and 16 books including Geology on the Moon (1977), Earthlike Planets (1981), Planetary Landscapes (1994), The NASA Atlas of the Solar System (1998), and 21st Century Astronomy (2007).
in 2007 and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
in 2008. At Arizona State University, he received a Distinguished Faculty Award in 2004 and was the recipient of the Best Field Trip of the Year award at the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration in 2007. Greeley was also the recipient of numerous NASA individual, group and leadership awards. An asteroid was named 30785 Greeley
in his honor in 1988.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
(ASU), the Director of the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
-ASU Regional Planetary Image Facility
Regional Planetary Image Facility
NASA Regional Planetary Image Facilities are planetary image and data libraries located throughout the United States and overseas and are funded by both NASA and the host institutions. A network of these facilities was established in 1977 to “maintain photographic and digital data as well as...
(RPIF), and Principal Investigator of the Planetary Aeolian Laboratory at NASA-Ames Research Center. He was involved with lunar and planetary studies since 1967 and most recently focused his research on understanding planetary surface processes and geologic histories.
Education
Greeley earned his B.S. degree in GeologyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
in 1962 and his M.S. degree in Geology in 1963 from Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and earned his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Missouri at Rolla in 1966.
Career
After receiving his Ph.D. in Geology in 1966, Greeley worked for Standard Oil Company of CaliforniaChevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
. Through his military service, he was assigned to NASA’s Ames Research Center in 1967 where he worked in a civilian capacity in preparation for the Apollo missions to the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. He remained at NASA to conduct research in planetary geology
Planetary geology
Planetary geology, alternatively known as astrogeology or exogeology, is a planetary science discipline concerned with the geology of the celestial bodies such as the planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites...
. With the results of the planetary missions in the early 1970s, attention shifted to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and research on volcanism
Volcanism
Volcanism is the phenomenon connected with volcanoes and volcanic activity. It includes all phenomena resulting from and causing magma within the crust or mantle of a planet to rise through the crust and form volcanic rocks on the surface....
and aeolian processes through the analysis of Mariner
Mariner program
The Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes designed to investigate Mars, Venus and Mercury from 1963 to 1973...
6, 7, and 9 data. He became a science team member on the Mars Viking
Viking program
The Viking program consisted of a pair of American space probes sent to Mars, Viking 1 and Viking 2. Each spacecraft was composed of two main parts, an orbiter designed to photograph the surface of Mars from orbit, and a lander designed to study the planet from the surface...
mission from 1976 through 1980.
In 1977, Greeley joined the faculty at Arizona State University with a joint professorship in Geology and the Center for Meteorite Studies
Center for Meteorite Studies
Founded in 1960, on the Tempe Campus of Arizona State University, the Center for Meteorite Studies houses the world's largest university-based meteorite collection. The collection contains specimens from over 1,600 separate meteorite falls and finds, and is actively used internationally for...
. His latest research focused on the wind processes on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, Mars, Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, and Titan
Titan
Titan most often refers to:*Titan , a class of deities who preceded the Olympians in Greek mythology*Titan , the largest moon of the planet Saturn-Music:*Titan, working title of Symphony No...
, field studies of basaltic volcanism, and photogeological mapping of the planets and satellites including Europa
Europa
-People and characters:* Europa , a Phoenician princess in Greek mythology, from whom the name of the continent Europe is taken* Europa of Macedon, the daughter of Philip II by his last wife, Cleopatra...
. He was also a science team member on the Mars Exploration Rover
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars...
program and the European Space Agency’s
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
Mars Express
Mars Express
Mars Express is a space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency . The Mars Express mission is exploring the planet Mars, and is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency. "Express" originally referred to the speed and efficiency with which the spacecraft was...
mission.
Greeley served on various NASA and National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences commonly refers to the academy in the United States of America.National Academy of Sciences may also refer to :* National Academy of Sciences of Argentina* Armenian National Academy of Sciences...
panels to assess space science
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
and planetary geology activities. He chaired the NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Management Operations Working Group, the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Lunar and Planetary Exploration, and the NASA Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group. He was Co-chair of the NASA Science Definition Team for the Europa flagship mission and served in that capacity until his death in 2011.
Greeley wrote or co-wrote more than 400 papers and 16 books including Geology on the Moon (1977), Earthlike Planets (1981), Planetary Landscapes (1994), The NASA Atlas of the Solar System (1998), and 21st Century Astronomy (2007).
Awards and honors
Greeley received a number of awards and honors during his career, including being named a Fellow of the American Geophysical UnionAmerican Geophysical Union
The American Geophysical Union is a nonprofit organization of geophysicists, consisting of over 50,000 members from over 135 countries. AGU's activities are focused on the organization and dissemination of scientific information in the interdisciplinary and international field of geophysics...
in 2007 and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
in 2008. At Arizona State University, he received a Distinguished Faculty Award in 2004 and was the recipient of the Best Field Trip of the Year award at the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration in 2007. Greeley was also the recipient of numerous NASA individual, group and leadership awards. An asteroid was named 30785 Greeley
30785 Greeley
30785 Greeley is a Mars-crossing asteroid discovered on August 13, 1988 by C. S. Shoemaker and E. M. Shoemaker at Palomar.- External links :*...
in his honor in 1988.